Dipylidium caninum, the most common tapeworm species in dogs, is transmitted by fleas. Fact is dogs can't get tapeworms directly from other dogs, or even cats. These parasites infect your pet through an intermediate host, like a flea.

Flea larvae eat D. caninum eggs eliminated by an infected pet. As the flea matures, so does the tapeworm. By the time the flea is an adult, the tapeworm larvae is at the stage where it can infect a dog. When a dog nips at a biting flea and accidentally swallows it, he swallows the infectious tapeworm larvae as well.

Inside the dog, the adult tapeworm hooks onto the dog's intestinal wall. Once attached, the tapeworm begins to grow a long tail of segments, each segment with its own digestive tract and reproductive system. The tapeworm continues to grow as it absorbs nutrients passing through the dog's intestines. As a segment reaches the tail end of the tapeworm body, it drops off, full of eggs. These eggs are passed through the dog into the world, where they are eaten by flea larvae and the cycle begins all over again.

If you see little, flat white "grains" in your dog's droppings, that's a good sign your dog has tapeworms. WormXPlus easily and effectively controls tapeworms in dogs. The active ingredient in WormXPlus is praziquantel, the veterinarians' choice for tapeworm control. It's safe for dogs and puppies over 4 weeks old.

Remember, to effectively control tapeworms you need to control fleas as well. Make sure you use effective products like Bio Spot® Defense Spot On® to control fleas both on your pet and where they live for complete flea and tapeworm control.